Let’s Bust Some Myths About Promo Products

“People Just Throw Promo Items Away”

That is the most hurtful thing someone has said to us all day. Also, data proves that this isn’t the case. Research by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) found that nearly half of respondents (48.7%) kept promotional products for over five years. Five years! The average American only keeps their phone for two years, five months.

Another study by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) broke it down by product. Asking respondents if they would keep a promo product for over a year, they got a resounding “yes” from 63% who would keep drinkware that long, 61% who would keep a fleece or outerwear, and 62% would keep a polo shirt. So no, the majority of those promos you’re passing out don’t go straight in the trash.

“Promos Are Poor Quality”

Also hurtful, also not true. And you can trust us because we’ve done a lot of tests on our promo products, which you can read about. We’ve tested bags, mugs, magnets, sunglasses, seeded products, camping chairs, erasers, speakers, and t-shirts – and probably other stuff we’re forgetting right now. And we can confirm that despite our best efforts, they worked as intended and were not easy to destroy.

Customers can tell the difference between a quality logo product (ahem) and one that’s junk. Choosing low quality promos can undermine your marketing efforts. Research by PPAI found that 70% of consumers equate the quality of the promo products a company gives them with that company’s reputation. Make sure you’re buying the good stuff – it’s worth it.

“People Don’t Want Stuff With Your Brand On It”

That’s actually more hurtful to you than us, but we feel your pain. Luckily research is on your side.

According to research by PPAI, 78% of customers who already love a brand enjoy getting promo products from them. And 73% said they want free stuff more often! It’s not just existing customers who appreciate giveaways: 70% of consumers said they’re likely to switch to a company they haven’t worked with before if that company gives them a promo product they really like.

Not only do most consumers want promo products, over 70% told PPAI that they prefer it to a lot of other types of marketing, including social media ads, 30-second radio or TV commercials, sales or telemarketing calls, and flyers. We hope that makes you feel better.

“Only Big Brands Can Sell Merch”

So far we’ve been talking about the promo products you give away for free. You can also sell products with your branding on them. We’ve seen this recently with trends like Trader Joe’s tote bags and Lowe’s mini buckets, which have become collectibles. However, you don’t have to be an internationally famous company to do this.

Small businesses with a local following can add custom merch as an extra revenue stream. Cafes, book stores, and even dive bars are getting in on the merch market. On top of generating extra cash, they’re getting free publicity among the people they most want to reach – other locals.

“All Promo Products Are the Same”

As much as we love pens, tote bags, and water bottles, we also sell hundreds of other types of promo products. There are lots of opportunities to get creative with your giveaways and choose something people aren’t expecting, which can help you stand out on the trade show floor. Just make sure it’s something your customers will find useful: In that research by PPAI we mentioned earlier, usefulness was the number one reason people gave for keeping a promo product.

The Bottom Line

There’s a lot of data to disprove misconceptions about promo products. We hope you have experienced a moment of clarity, and that you’re fully prepared to “Well actually” the next person who dares to utter one of these myths in your presence.